On November 21 the Third UN Committee adopted the resolution on Human Rights situation in Belarus. The document was introduced by USA in co-authorship with Australia, EU, Israel, Canada, Switzerland and Japan. The resolution expresses ‘deep concern’ with the systematic HR violations in Belarus and ‘further erosion of the democratic processes’. (22-NOV-07)
Based on www.svaboda.org , www.charter97.org
33 countries have introduced to the UN a draft resolution on Belarus on November 12. The document authors express their ‘deep concern with the Belarus’ non-abidance by the general process norms, continuous use of criminal persecution and arbitrary detentions with the aim to silence the political opposition and human rights activists, closed trials over the leading representatives of the opposition and human rights defenders’.
Erosion of democratic process
The resolution points at ‘further erosion of the democratic process’ and states that the local election 2007 in Belarus was held with intimidation of the opposition and pressurization of independent mass media. The project authors including the US, the EU and Japan, reminded the official Minsk about the forced kidnap of a journalist and three political opponents of the Belarusian president Aliaksandar Lukashenka. Belarus is also accused of closure of NGOs, associations of national minorities, independent mass media, religious communities, oppositional political parties, independent trade unions and student organizations. The European Humanities University is enlisted among the persecuted organizations.
UN Recommendations
The accepted document include insistent appeal to Belarusian authorities ‘on immediate and unconditional release of all the persons arrested for political reasons’, and ‘to stop oppression and intimidation ‘ of the political opponents, public activists, human rights activists and independent mass media. The resolution also calls to adjust election process and legislation of Belarus to international standards. General Assembly insists that Belarusian authorities cooperate with the HR Council in full measure and all the mechanisms of the OSCE. Last year the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution condemning Belarus for violation of the democratic liberties. the Russian Federation was among those who voted nay.
Belarusian authorities’ reaction
-We are sure the resolution of the UN Third committee has no legal, no political basis- Belarusian MFA press secretary Andrei Popov declared on briefing commenting New York elections.
